Chapter 1 - What is Biological Anthropology?

Question 1

Archaeology

Answer 1

Study of past societies and their cultures, especially the material remains of the past, such as tools, food remains and places where people lived

Question 2

Artifacts

Answer 2

Material objects from past cultures

Question 3

Biocultural approach

Answer 3

The scientific study of the interrelationship between what humans have inherited genetically and culture

Question 4

Biological anthropology

Answer 4

Study of human evolution and variation, both past and current

Question 5

Bipedalism

Answer 5

Walking on two feet

Question 6

Cultural anthropology

Answer 6

Study of cultures and societies of human beings and their very recent past.

Question 7

Empirical

Answer 7

Verified through observation and experiment

Question 8

Genome

Answer 8

The complete set of genetic information-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA-for an organism or species that represents all of the inheritable traits

Question 9

Hominins

Answer 9

Humans and humanlike ancestors

Question 10

Hypotheses

Answer 10

Testable statements that potentially explain specific phenomena observed int he natural world

Question 11

Linguistic Anthropology

Answer 11

Study of languageh, especially how language is structured, the evolution of language, and the social and cultural contexts for language

Question 12

Material Culture

Answer 12

The part of culture that is expressed as objects that humans use to manipulate environments

Question 13

Morphology

Answer 13

Physical shape and appearance

Question 14

Nonhoning canine

Answer 14

An upper canine that, as part of a nonhoning chewing mechanism, is not sharpened against the lower third premolar

Question 15

Physical Anthropology

Answer 15

Also called biological anthropology

Question 16

Primates

Answer 16

A group of mammals in the order of Primates that have complex behavior, varied forms of locomotion, and a unique suite of traits, including large brains, forward-facing eyes, fingernails, and reduced snouts

Question 17

Scientific Law

Answer 17

A statement of fact-describing natural phenomena

Question 18

Scientific Method

Answer 18

An empirical research method in which data are gathered from observations of phenomena, hypotheses are formulated and tested, and conclusions are drawn that validate or modify the original hypotheses

Question 19

Social Learning

Answer 19

The capacity to learn from other humans, enabling the accumulation of knowledge across many generations

Question 20

Sociolinguistics

Answer 20

The science of investigating language’s social contexts

Question 21

Terrestrial

Answer 21

Life-forms, including humans, that live on land versus living in water or in trees

Question 22

Theory

Answer 22

Explanation as to why a natural phenomenon takes place

Question 23

Anatomical

Answer 23

Pertaining to an organism’s physical structure

Question 24

Anthropology

Answer 24

Study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times

Question 25

Arboreal

Answer 25

Tree-dwelling, adapted to living in the trees

Question 26

Culture

Answer 26

Learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person

Question 27

Data

Answer 27

Evidence gathered to help answer questions, solve problems, and fill gaps in scientific knowledge

Question 28

Forensic Anthropology

Answer 28

Scientific examination of skeletons in hope of identifying the people whose bodies they came from

Question 29

Language

Answer 29

Set of written or spoken symbols that refer to things other than themselves